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7 March 2021 1218 comments
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An out-of-form Liverpool face Fulham in the second of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off on Merseyside is at 14:00 GMT.

Given that less than 72 hours separated the Reds’ Gameweek 26 clash with Chelsea and today’s game, and with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking jaded in that Thursday night defeat, a change or two to the starting XI always looked likely this afternoon.

We didn’t quite expect the full extent of the rotation, though: Klopp has made seven alterations to his line-up against the Cottagers as he attempts to avoid a sixth straight league defeat at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and Ozan Kabak (£5.0m) miss out with minor fitness issues but the other five changes are unenforced, with Klopp explaining ahead of kick-off:

Two changes we had to make because of little injuries, Bobby and Ozan.

We are in an intense period and we have an opportunity now to change some players who had more sessions in their legs. That’s the plan behind it: getting fresh legs back and trying to give Fulham a proper fight.

Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) are among the players to make way, with Curtis Jones (£4.4m), Thiago (£5.6m) and Fabinho (£5.4m) also dropping to the bench.

Diogo Jota (£6.6m) starts a league game for the first time in over three months, while Rhys Williams (£4.0m), Neco Williams (£3.8m) and Nathaniel Phillips (£4.0m) come into a much-changed and youthful defence.

There are recalls too for Naby Keita (£5.2m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.4m).

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has been spared the axe, with a half-hour breather after his early substitution against Chelsea perhaps influencing Klopp’s decision to field him from the start today.

The Fulham team news is more straightforward, with Scott Parker making only two changes from the side that started the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) is a surprise omission, with Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.3m) in for the Chelsea loanee.

The regular rotation continues at full-back, meanwhile, with Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) making way for Kenny Tete (£4.3m).

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 27 SO FAR…

Salah swerves Liverpool rotation as Klopp makes seven changes for Fulham

One of the more predictable results of the weekend saw strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United play out a goalless draw at the Hawthorns.

The Magpies were without their first-choice front three through injury and there was a predictable lack of conviction when chances fell the way of Joelinton (£5.7m), who was part of a strike duo with an ‘out of position’ Ryan Fraser (£5.6m).

For West Brom, this was a third clean sheet in four and a testament to the influence that new signing Okay Yokuslu (£4.5m) is having on the Albion back four.

A match against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 28 presents Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) with a good opportunity to build on his total of 27 points over his last four appearances.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, N. Williams, Phillips, R. Williams, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Shaqiri, Salah, Jota.

Fulham XI: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete, Cavaleiro, Lemina, Reed, Reid, Maja, Lookman.

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  1. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    That's at red card!

    Just got straight armed in the face.

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      It was certainly worthy of review.

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        You even get sent off in Rugby for clotheslining like that.

  2. Hulk Smash
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    GBH from Keita

  3. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Parker looks like an expectant father.

    1. Says
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      it's just trapped wind

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Salah for a hit (finally).

    At least any damage taken for that move has now been minimised.

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A week ahead of the rest of us

  5. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Pool put out of their misery. Dire performance.

  6. ivantys
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Liverpool keeping relegation battle exciting as always.

  7. Party time
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Massive win for Fulham. They deserve to stay up!!!

    • Says
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Phillips header was so bad that he's bleeding from it

    • ivantys
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fergie time?

    • Gross Blank Point
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      This'll be 5 starts in a row for Mahrez, wish I'd got him in now

    • Third Eye Vision
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      What’s with all the extra extra time?

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Officials couldn't believe Liv were losing to Ful, so must have been a problem with the timepiece. 🙂 Hard to believe that result! Man!

    • sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      0-1 FT

    • Limbo
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      FT.

      Well done Fulham. Played well.

    • Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Well done Scot Parker and Fulham. Great result.

    • bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpool's record in the PL since Christmas is

      Played 14, 3 Wins, 3 Draws, 8 Losses, 12 Points.

      Points per game 0.85, if they scored at that rate for a whole season they would get just 33 and probably be relegated.

    • Vamos Los Celeste
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Get in.

    • Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      How are bundesliga 2nd team losing to this pool side?

      That too by 2 goals

      Bundesliga must be really bad

      1. Random Name
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        English teams have been getting destroyed in the UCL for years now the last couple years doesn't change that

      2. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Got it in one. Only one side in Germany.

      3. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        The PL is clearly the strongest league. It might not have the best overall team, but if you take the Top 8 in the PL they are stronger than their equivalents in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Portugal.

    • diesel001
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Good times for Shahid Khan and Tony Khan.

      Fulham improving, AEW improving. Jaguars to complete the hat-trick?

      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        loving it

    • Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Klopp out. Gerrard in?

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        klopp will be supported

        1. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          A vote of confidence is not good though.

      2. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Liverpool can get their beady eyes the hell off Gerrard!!!!

      3. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Looking more and more likely by the game.

      4. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        One bad season is just that ... they should back him.

    • Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Mocking Liverpool is getting boring now :/

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        So is their shite form.

    • Party time
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Time to bin Salah

        1. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          This.... even with the fixtures coming up I think Jota in and use the extra funds.

        2. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Jota the ma to get. If he blanks you won’t feel so bad with the other 6m else where in your team.

      • Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        FT

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Nobody is shocked anymore.

        2. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          With enough predictions it's easy to get some right. Cancelo hasn't assisted 10 yet, but he certainly has still time 😉

      • Homer21
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Well done Fulham, but you won't be playing Liverpool every week

      • Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Fulham might catch Liverpool come GW38.

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          we passed 40 points luckily 🙄

      • OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Well Done Fulham!!!

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Ref gave Liverpool every chance there, where did he get 6mins additional time from?

        1. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          exactly

      • Fred54
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        So now every cheap GK decides to haul.

      • sunzip14
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Why was I wasting my time with this match when the Madrid derby was on?

      • Third Eye Vision
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        They’ll have to add another star to their crest.

        6 times.

        La-la-la!

        etc.